Chem log, to see....

[Charlie_R]

Thanks, BigDave.

I guess I just got a little impatient this afternoon, after having added yet another 1/4c of acid. This evening's test of TA did actually show a drop to 180, but still in the error range from the last test. May be a "can't see the forest for the trees" type of blindness. Thanks for the reminder of where I had come from. Maybe I should have started a spreadsheet to record all my test results?

Now if I could just figure out how to get the calcium down....Or am I OK with that at 250? Not sure what the saturation point would be where I would start to see scale on the ladder etc. I do note that there is some scale on the ladder legs at the waterline, from previous years use. I don't think it is from this fill.

Charlie

[BigDave]

Your pH rise will slow down as the TA gets lower and, I presume, you'll stop aerating when you get to your TA goal which will also slow pH rise (it's why your aerating). Remember, you're in the process of reducing TA - adding acid as often as you are is not a permanent state.

Calcium Hardness at 250 shouldn't be a problem, just avoid chlorinating with cal-hypo.

[Charlie_R]

Thanks for the info on the CH.

Yes, I would quit aerating when I reach the goal of TA=100. However, my wife likes the sound of gentle splashing from return, so I'll probably need to keep an eye on this level, and adjust as needed with baking soda.

Cal-hypo pucks available now, have a line in the ingredients "other chemicals, 4%" with no explanation as to what they are, so using them is a no-go for me. I want to know exactly what I'm putting in my pool!

[Charlie_R]

Is there a Pool Owners Anonymous? I was told today that I'm obsessed with the pool, and Wife may be right. I can't get near that thing without picking up the leaf net and working out some of the tree leaves and other organics from the water. Is this normal behavior from new pool owners? or am I "a little touched in the head"?

[BigDave]

Tetched? Whatever could you mean?
Perfectly normal; you're learning something new that means something to you, you're invested. Don't let the haters bring you down. If you feel you're obsessed then backup but if you're just practicing your new hobby - Stand Proud.

[Charlie_R]

Had to add a couple of inches of make-up water today. Took a half gallon bottle of muriatic to bring the pH back down to just below 7.2. Dropped the water temperature from a comfortable ( to these arthritic joints ) 90F to 82F.....Water felt downright COLD this afternoon!

This evening's test of the TA shows the trend downward continuing, 160ppm even with the influx of new water. Interesting to me is that at 240, it took 10 or more drops of the titration solution to give the flash of color when you are about halfway to the full change in color. Now I see that on the very first drop.

And, BigDave -- I'm still obsessed. I cant stand to see a leaf drop into my pool! Cold as that water felt, I stayed in it to get "just a little more" of the days debris out of the pool.

Am I right about leaves and bugs etc. using part of the chlorine?

Charlie

[Watermom]

Any time you have organic stuff in the water, you will use a little more chlorine. But, obsessive Charlie, a bug and a leaf won't matter!